Monoglyceride is a part of a lipid group compound. As a derivative of triglycerides, monoglycerides could be produced from renewable resources like fat or vegetable oils. Structurally, monoglyceride has lipophilic and hydrophilic properties in its molecule. Lipophilic properties could be donated by an acyl group from fatty acid and hydrophilic properties from two hydroxyl residues. Therefore, it was referred to as an organic amphiphilic compound. Monoglycerides have potency as antifungal agents. Based on its chemical structure, monoglyceride allows to bind to lipid bilayer and other components on the cell membrane of fungal microorganism and damage it. In this chapter, we will describe the structure and classification, physical and chemical properties, as well as reaction path synthesis of monoglyceride from vegetable oils and mechanism of action of monoglyceride as antifungal agents.
Part of the book: Apolipoproteins, Triglycerides and Cholesterol